of ecstacy, and in another, cause our immediate destruction -that it is capable of being compressed into 40,000 times less space than it naturally occupies-and that the production of sound, the lives of animals, and the growth of vegetables, depend upon its various and unceasing agencies. We learn that a certain fluid pervades all nature, which is capable of giving a shock to the animal frame, which shock may be communicated in an instant to a thousand individuals that this fluid moves with inconceivable rapiditythat it can be drawn from the clouds in the form of a stream of fire-that it melts iron wire, increases the evaporation of fluids, destroys the polarity of the magnetic needle, and occasionally displays its energies among the clouds in the form of fire balls, lambent flames, and forked lightnings. We learn that the bodies of birds, fishes, quadrupeds, and insects, in relation to their eyes, feet, wings, fins, and other members, are formed with admirable skill, so as to be exactly adapted to their various necessities and modes of existence, and that they consist of an infinite number of contrivances and adaptations in order to accomplish the purpose intended-and that the beaver, the bee, the ant, and other insects, construct their habitations, and perform their operations with all the skill and precision of the nicest mathematical science. The bee, in particular, works, as if it knew the highest branches of mathematics, which required the genius of Newton to discover.-In short, the whole of nature presents a scene of wonders which, when seriously contemplated, is calculated to expand the intellectual powers, to refine the affections, and to excite admiration of the attributes of God, and the plan of his providence.

Natural Philosophy may, therefore, be considered as a branch both of the religion of nature, and of the religion of revelation. It removes, in part, the veil which is spread over the mysterious operations of nature, and discloses to our view the wonders which lie concealed from the sottish multitude, "who regard not the works of the Lord, nor consider the operations of his hands." It enables us to perceive the footsteps of the Almighty both in his majestic movements, and in his most minute designs; for there is not a step we can take in the temple of nature, under the gui

dance of an enlightened philosophy, in which we do not behold traces of inscrutable wisdom and design, and of a benevolence which extends its kind regards to every rank of sensitive and intelligent existence. It shows us the beauty and goodness of the Divine administration; and demonstrates, that the communication of happiness is the final cause of all the admirable arrangements which pervade the material system. It teaches us, that the several operations of nature are carried on by means uncontrollable by human power, and far transcending finite skill to plan or to execute. It discovers those laws by which the sovereign of the universe governs his vast dominions, and maintains them in undecaying beauty and splendour, throughout all ages. It thus enables us to consecrate the universe into one grand temple, and, from the contemplation of every object it presents, to elevate our minds, and to raise our voices in grateful praises to Him "who created all things, and for whose pleasure they are and were created."

In the future world there will be abundant scope for the prosecution of this subject to an indefinite extent. With respect to the state of separate spirits, after their departure from this world, the employments in which they engage, and the connection in which they stand to the material system, we can form no distinct conception, and must remain in ignorance till the period arrive when we shall be actually ushered into that mysterious scene of existence. But, we are assured, that, after the resurrection, a material world will be prepared for the habitation of the just, in which their connection with the visible universe will doubtless, be far more extensive than it is at present; and wherever a material system exists, it affords scope for physical investigations, and for the application of the principles of Natural Philosophy. This new world will be prepared and arranged by Divine wisdom; and consequently, will exhibit scenes of beauty and grandeur, of exquisite contrivance and benevolent design. For, if the world we now inhabit, amidst all the deformities and physical derange. ments which sin has introduced, displays so many beautiful arrangements and marks of intelligence and skill, much more may we conclude, that the world in which "right

ence.

eousness shall dwell," will abound in every thing that can charm the eye, the ear, or the imagination, and illustrate the manifold wisdom of God; and of course will present a boundless field for the most sublime investigations of sciThis world, in many of its arrangements, will doubt. less present a variety of objects and scenes altogether different from those we now behold, even although the same phy. sical laws which govern our terrestrial system should still continue in operation. The inflection, refraction and reflection of light will be directed by the same general laws, and will produce effects analogous to those we now perceive in the scene around us; but the mediums through which it passes, and the various objects by which it is refracted and reflected, and many other modifications to which it may be subjected, may produce a variety of as. tonishing effects, surpassing every thing we now behold, and exhibit scenes of beauty and magnificence of which we can, at present, form no distinct conception. The science of optics, in unfolding to us the nature of light, and the various properties of prisms, mirrors, and lenses, has enabled us to exhibit a variety of beautiful and surprising effects, and to perceive traces of infinite intelligence in relation to this element, beyond what former ages could have believed. And, therefore, we have reason to conclude, that, in the hand of Omnipotence, when arranging other worlds, the element of light is capable of being modified in a thousand forms of which we are now ignorant, so as to produce the most glorious and transporting effects. There will probably be no such phenomena as thunder, lightning, and fiery meteors in the world to which I allude, but the electrical fluid, which is the principal agent in producing these appearances, and which pervades every part of nature, may operate in that world in a different manner, and, instead of producing effects that are terrific and appalling, may be an agent for creating scenes which will inspire the soul with admiration and delight. Some of the mechanical, pneumatical, and hydrostatical principles which enter inte the construction of mills, wheel-carriages, forcing-pumps, and steam-engines, may not be applied to the same purposes in the future world; but they may be applicable to a variety of other unknown purposes corresponding to the

nature of that world, and the character and employments of its inhabitants.

In such cases as those now alluded to, and in thousands of others, there will be ample scope for the application of all the principles of natural science; and thousands of facts and principles, to us unknown, will doubtless be brought to light by the superior sagacity of the heavenly inhabitants. To maintain the contrary, would be, in effect, to suppose, that the inhabitants of heaven are endowed with powers of intellect inferior to those of the inhabitants of the earth,—that their knowledge is less extensive than ours, that they make no progress in moral and intellectual attainments, and that they have no desire to explore "the works of the Lord, and to consider the operations of his hands."

What has been now stated in relation to Natural Philosophy, will equally apply to the science of Chemistry. This science has for its object to ascertain the first principles of all bodies, their various properties and combinations, their mode of operation, and the effects they produce in the economy of nature. Its discoveries have not only unfolded many of the admirable processes which are going forward in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, but have opened to our view many striking displays of the wisdom and goodness of God, in producing, by the most simple means, the most astonishing and benevolent effects. The principles of this science must, therefore, be applicable, wherever matter exists, under whatever shape or modification it may present itself; and as all the worlds throughout the universe are composed of matter compounded into various forms, they must afford an ample range for the investigations and researches of chemical science.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

Anatomy and Physiology are subjects which, we may reasonably conclude, will occasionally occupy the attention of the inhabitants of heaven. The object of these sciences is, to investigate the general structure and economy of the animal frame, and especially the parts and functions of the human body. The system of organization connected with the human frame is the most admirable piece of mecha

nism which the mind can contemplate-whether we consider the immense number and variety of its parts-the numerous functions they perform-the rapid movements which are incessantly going forward throughout every part of this system-the amazing force exerted by the heart and muscles-the processes of digestion and respiration-the system of veins and arteries-the articulation of the bonesthe structure and course of the lymphatics-the ramifications of the nerves- -the circulation of the blood--the wonderful changes, dissolutions and combinations continually going on-the chemical apparatus adapted for effecting these purposes-the organs of sense by which an intercourse is maintained with the external world--or, the harmonious correspondence of all its parts and functions with the agencies of the surrounding elements. From the re

searches of physiologists we learn, that there are in the human body, two hundred and forty-five bones variously articulated, each of them having above forty distinct scopes or intentions; and four hundred and forty-six muscles of various figures and magnitudes, connected with the bones, for producing the numerous movements of the animal framethat more than a hundred of these muscles are employed every time we breathe-that there are thousands of veins and arteries distributed throughout every part of this wonderful system-that the whole mass of blood rushes with immense velocity, through these vessels, and through the heart, fourteen times every hour--that respiration is nothing else than a species of combustion, in which the oxygen of the atmosphere is absorbed by the blood, and diffuses heat and vigour throughout the system-that the lungs are composed of an infinite number of membranous cells or vesicles variously figured, and full of air, communicating on all sides with one another, and that their number amounts to at least 1,700,000,000--that there are above three hundred thousand millions of pores in the glands of the skin which covers the body of a middle-sized man, through which the sweat and insensible perspiration are continually issuingthat thousands of lacteal and lymphatic tubes are absorbing and conveying nutriment to the blood--that the heart, in the centre of the system, is exerting an immense muscular force, and giving ninety-six thousand strokes every